While talking about the literary pieces which makes people laugh and smile and also manage to hold the attention of critics, the Oscar Wilde is often remembered. Mariano Baselga quotes in her criticism that a number of remarks are made about Wilde’s ‘trick’ to get his audience to laugh and smile.
Wilde’s short stories collection comprises of two varieties, The first collection covers the themes of love, friendship and sacrifice that leads to the happiness redemption and stability, where as second collection raises question against the traditional categories of right and wrong. The first collection of fairy tales Oscar Wilde published was The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Amongst these stories were “The Happy Prince “and “The Devoted Friend”, two stories that revolve around the value of friendship and charity. These tales were published as fairy tales, a genre known for its moralistic nature.
There is role of charity as well as the illustration of life imitation in “The Happy Prince”, and Wilde has also promoted the idea of virtuous life in this story. The Prince and the swallow represents the true picture of a virtuous man, the prince, who, when was alive never came across the hardship and bitter realities of life. His life was full of comforts and joys. He had never longed for anything. Now as he his bright and beautiful statue stands at height can see through the life of his city. He is conscious of the facts and the condition of a common man. He can see that there is poverty, hunger, grief and illness. And many people could hardly manage through their existence but he can now only cry at the condition but cannot help as he cannot move.
Whereas the swallow, who is foolish and flighty and want to fly around to see everything by itself, when was begged by the Prince to help him with his purpose; not only stays with him but also befriend the prince. The good deeds of the Prince and the swallow continue by the distribution of the precious stones and the gold...